THUNDERSTORMS GIVE STATE AN AIR OF FLORIDA

SUSAN HOURIET; Courant Staff WriterTHE HARTFORD COURANT

Brief, violent thunderstorms with heavy rain can be a daily occurrence in south Florida but are unusual in Connecticut, at least until now.

"It's really been interesting from a weather standpoint. It's very rare to see this particular pattern like this for the Northeast," said Mel Goldstein, director of the Weather Center at Western Connecticut State University at Danbury.

A storm concentrated in central Connecticut Wednesday night caused several inches of rain. Southington received the most rain, with four inches. Thursday afternoon a similar storm with gustier winds rolled across the state, dropping 1 to 2 inches and causing some localized flooding and power failures. As of early evening Thursday, Northeast Utilities reported 700 customers without power in Hebron, Lebanon and Wilton.

"It seems like lightning, thunder, high winds and heavy rain is just part and parcel of July," said Emmanuel Forde, a Northeast Utilities spokesman.

The storms are caused by a high-pressure system that is farther north than usual, Goldstein said. The tropical air is "very humid and very potentially violent," especially when it comes in contact with a stationary front along the east coast.

The weather will continue in that pattern for at least two more days, with temperatures in the mid-80s during the day and the mid-70s at night.

The warm temperatures have driven up the water temperature in Long Island Sound to 77 degrees at the mouth of the Housatonic. With weather conditions ripe for a tropical storm or hurricane to move quickly toward Connecticut, the warm water temperatures could hold a storm together and contribute to its power, Goldstein said.

Radar does not show any tropical storms developing, but "it's not a very happy picture" if one should move north, he said.

For Stamford resident Carin Lanefski, who swims in the Sound every day, the high water temperatures have made her exercise a little less refreshing.

"I personally wish it was a little cooler," the 52-year-old said.

The high water temperatures are also concern for marine biologists monitoring the Sound. The Long Island Sound Taskforce, which studies water quality in southwest harbors, has found areas of hypoxia in several harbors. Hypoxia is a lack of oxygen in the water which can kill marine life and make the water unpleasant for swimmers because it smells.